EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Julan was, predictably, stunned for a moment by Janius' addition. His mind had genuinely not even considered the notion of pregnancy, or anything close to in, in regards to Leeus. For him, that was a concern for adults, and was many years off from being anything that he would need to think about. He was not sure how to take it, and just ended up stammering for a few seconds after Janius stopped.

"I, um, I don't...I never even thought about...wouldn't that mean I'd have to..." He stumbled over his words, and if he had been biologically capable of sweating, he would have been drenched. "Isn't that something only...mates can do?"

---

"Oh, my family shouldn't be too much longer. Perhaps twenty or so more minutes." Ahnasha answered. She looked around for a moment, mostly towards Shevari. She had wanted to have some time to speak with Calia about her own family, but Shevari's presence did somewhat complicate that. Regardless, she was sure that Llarasa and Monderyn had shared with their mother everything they had talked about with them in the inn before.

"They have been eager to meet you for a long while now. They really are a friendly sort. Sometimes too friendly..." Ahnasha added with a light chuckle. "...but I love them all the same."

Shevari, meanwhile, eagerly shook Llarasa's hand. "Oh, my apologies. It's easy for me to get lost in my work sometimes. You can just ask my husband about that." She grinned. "Yes, I'm Shevari, Ahnasha's sister-in-law. It's a pleasure to meet you. Gwindir and S'nashi have been talking about visiting Cheydinhal for years now."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Again, Julan looked somewhat confused. "Well...yeah, I'm not supposed to infect anyone. Even if someone was trying to hurt me, or worse, and I had to fight them, I'm not supposed to let them get infected. You've always told me that."

Julan scratched his head as he thought more on Janius' question. "But, um...other limits. Let's see, uhhh...I can't infect her and...oh, I can't let her know what we are. That's one. And, um, I can't...let her know about our home or clan. That's another. I can tell her all about Skyrim, but not anything about our city. Or cavern. Or other clans, I guess. Nothing about them. I just have to pretend we are normal people. Is that everything?"

---

If there was anything that was similar between Ahnasha's mother and Calia, it was how much they had wanted to touch her upon seeing her again. Granted, their reasons were quite different. Ahnasha's whiskers twitched under Calia's touch, and she was soon smiling along with her. Ahnasha returned the embrace, which, she had to admit, did erode some of the worry she had been building up in anticipation of their picnic. "Well, I do my best to be a lovely wife for your son, especially since he is just as wonderful of a husband. And it is good to hear that your health is better than ever."

Shevari's mentality towards her cooking made Fendros' family the "customer" for her meal, so she was naturally smiling and friendly the moment she saw them coming up the path. Though there were still a few dishes that needed some last minute attention, she stepped forward with an expression that was as bright as her scales. "That sounds wonderful." Shevari answered towards Llarasa. "What sort of wine is it? I would like to figure out what course it would go best with."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Julan tried to think along the lines that Janius was suggesting. To be fair, his father's explanation did actually make sense to him, and did make some progress for him to understand the situation. "Um, well...I guess I can't promise that I'll stay here either. And I, uh, can't promise that I can come back soon. Just like you said. And I, um, I can't, uh..."

Again, Julan hit a wall. Beyond what Janius had already pointed out, Julan could not think of anything that he should have been avoiding to promise to Leeus. "Is there anything else? Was there supposed to be anything else? I just don't know."

---

To oblige Calia's request, Ahnasha approached her and Monderyn, after subtly nudging Rhazii in the side to prompt him to do the same. She waited until Monderyn had time to help her down from the horse before responding in a cheery tone. "Hello. And I have to say, it is wonderful to see my mother-in-law again."

They did not have walls and a roof to trap the scents, but once they were close enough, Fendros' family would easily be able to take in varying aromas of the veritable feast that Shevari had prepared for them. Many of the scents would be familiar, and perhaps even nostalgic for the less common dishes, but there was an equal mix of exotic cuisine that Shevari had tailored specifically to impress.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Despite Janius' answer, Julan seemed even more confused. He started to open his mouth to speak, but just ended up giving a long hum. Eventually, he looked down at the ground and managed to come up with an answer. "I...I don't know. I told her I was going to have to leave soon and everything, but she said it was okay, and she just wanted to kiss and stuff. Isn't that okay? I just..."

Julan started to seem somewhat frustrated as he brought his eyes back up to Janius. "...you're confusing me! First you said I need to be careful about getting close to people, since they can't get leave with us. But...then you said that I should still do it. That I don't want to end up always wondering 'what if?'. And now I'm back to it being bad to do things with her? I don't know what you want me to do!"

---

Shevari looked away, doing something similar to blushing for Argonians. "Oh I...don't think I'm amazing or anything. I'm perfectly confident in my cooks to keep the place in order while I'm gone. The restaurant's theme was just my idea. I...do think that Gwindir is a little jealous of the fact that my restaurant makes more gold than his store now, though." She grinned, taking a small amount of pride in her accomplishments for at least a moment.

After getting their next fire going and starting off the sausages, Shevari did the rounds to check each of the dishes she had going. The Redoran peppered melons was essentially a salad with only a few cooked ingredients, but she stopped with concern after taking in its scent. She sampled one of the diced melons, and was evidently mortified by what she tasted. All at once, the calm she had managed to attain was shattered, and that familiar, somewhat intimidating focus returned in full, as if she had forgotten everything she had just said moments ago. "No, no, this is all wrong. There's too much pepper on these. Did you add five pinches, or six? Never mind that, I need to make this over again. Dice up another melon and start grinding up more pepper, quick quick!"

Shevari kept her professional focus, especially after Ahnasha returned with the last of the ingredients, and Shevari was able to get to work on every dish she had planned. Regardless of how stressed Shevari seemed, it was good that she kept up her haste, as the full meal only started to near completion less than half an hour before Fendros' family had been told to arrive. Being that it was only a friendly, family picnic, Ahnasha was not sure if they were going to be strictly punctual, but she waited and watched the trail all the same.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Julan was confused and slow to respond, but he did slowly nod after a few seconds. "Um...a disease cure? Yeah, we're always supposed to carry one right? A disease cure, healing potions, and poison cures if you're not an Argonian. Oh, and a magicka potion if you can do magic."

However, Julan still looked quite genuinely confused. "But, um, why do you think I'd need it? I don't want to bite her, or...try to eat her or something. I'm in good control; we hunted not long before we got here, remember?"

---

"Oh, don't worry, you're doing fine. I just...it's a habit for me. I'm just always cooking in a rush most of the time. My restaurant, it's a popular place. People can sometimes come in all at once. Early in the mornings, or in the afternoon, or after temple on Sundas, or when a ship of sailors comes into port, sometimes when a company of soldiers comes through..." She listed off a few more examples as she worked with Rhazii to help him start up another fire.

Shevari continued her explanations as she searched through their bag of ingredients for what she needed for the next dish. "I just need to get these sausages started soon. It's a Breton recipe, so it, naturally, has seven extra steps of dubious necessity, and takes a while to finish. I'm just hoping your family will like it all, Fendros. S'nashi wanted me to serve a Dunmer meal, but I really think variety is a lot better. Variety is what has really made my business last, after all. I think people really like to be able to try so many different things in one place. There aren't any other places in Leyawiin that can do that. Apparently, my restaurant actually has a...reputation now. And a good one, too. I didn't know what to think when a sailor first told me that he had heard about my little restaurant all the way in Sunhold. It's, um, mostly just in port cities, among sailors who are always traveling around, trading stories of the places they visit. But, for those sailors and traders that stop in Leyawiin, my little restaurant might actually be one they know by name." She explained, smiling widely.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I, um...okay. Just give me a minute" Julan replied, moving slowly and lingering around in the water for a minute before finally climbing out of the river and following after his father. At the very least, it did look like he had actually been cleaned reasonably well.

Janius' deception seemed effective, as Julan seemed genuinely confused about what he wanted and why they would be speaking in private. He just looked up at his father, curiously and somewhat confused.

---

As demanding as Shevari was, there was something impressive about how she managed to cook so many meals so quickly and efficiently, and while still paying close attention to the fine details of each dish. She was going to be able to make a much larger meal for them in the few hours they had than Fendros might have expected.

Given Cheydinhal's proximity to Morrowind, Shevari had access to the right ingredients to make the core of their meal from Dunmer cuisine. She was making a special stew from a recipe that had once been popular in Vivec, which she had learned from a former resident of the city. At the same time, she was preparing a Telvanni frittata, similar to the popular kwama egg quiche, a side dish of Redoran peppered melons, and even an Ashlander nix-hound chili. Although, she gave no explanation on how she came across that sort of recipe. Provided Ahnasha was able to find their main course, they would also be having a kagouti roast. Beyond Dunmer cuisine, she was also planning on a few dishes from Imperial and Breton cuisine, with a dessert of Summerset rainbow pie, Sun's Height pudding, and her own personal sweetroll recipe.

Shevari grabbed the bittergreen from Rhazii and gave him his next command before she had even turned back around. "Get the cabbage to the frittata and stoke the fire under the chili. That should've already been done by now." She began, interrupting herself as she dashed over to the chili and sniffed the air over it. "No, no, the fire wasn't hot enough. If we don't get the sausages going now, they'll never be done in time. Get another fire going! Quick, quick!"

A few more minutes, mistakes, and delays later and Shevari was dashing between fires, muttering angry-sounding words in Jel to herself. She eventually stopped in front of Rhazii, looking as if she were going to expel all of her frustration at once. "Rhazii, this is not..." She began, but all at once, stopped in silence. Her Argonian eyelids blinked upwards a few times, and all of the tension in her body suddenly deflated. She stood up straight in front of him, smiling with her hands clasped together. "Oh, um...my apologies. I got a little carried away there. I sometimes...forget myself when I'm cooking."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The scene that Janius stepped into for the second time was distinctly different from the first. They were still sitting in the river, close together, but Leeus was rubbing Julan's already-cleaned back with her knuckles, as if to scrub away some invisible dirt. Julan attempted to hide his anxiety, even if he did not do so particularly successfully. To his credit, he managed so look up at Janius calmly, without showing too much surprise. There was just a light, perhaps forced worry in his expression.

"Um, yes father, I'm here. Is everything alright? Does...the Treeminder want me back...or something?" He asked hesitantly.

---

For the rest of the evening, at least, Ahnasha was able to avoid any new crisis. They had their dinner, then returned straight back to Cheydinhal after nightfall. They had a short conversation with Ahnasha's brother when they passed by them in the main room of the inn, but nothing important was said beyond confirming that they would all be having their picnic at Lake Arrius north of the city, shortly after midday.

Ahnasha did not sleep terribly well, but nevertheless, made sure she was up early in the morning, then woke up Fendros and Rhazii in turn. While she was not quite as worried about her family as she had been before, she still felt it would be best if she was there at the lake long before her family arrived. She wanted to avoid having her family meet Fendros', without either of them being present. She had even given her family a slightly later time to arrive, to avoid having them meet Fendros' family on the path up to the lake.

Ahnasha had volunteered herself, Fendros, and Rhazii to help Shevari prepare their picnic, which is what they spent most of their morning doing. Shevari gave Ahnasha a long list of ingredients, substitute ingredients, and, if needed, substitutes for the substitutes to buy. Meanwhile, Fendros and Rhazii headed up to the lake with Shevari to set up the fires, cooking pots, and a cooking spit for their planned main course. The lake itself was small and idyllic, with its waters constantly moving from the small waterfall that flowed into it. There were clouds filling the sky, but it did not look like rain would be coming anytime soon, or at least not soon enough to bother them.

After Ahnasha brought up the first bag of ingredients, Shevari went ahead and started cooking what she could with what she had. Interestingly, Shevari seemed to act quite differently once she started her work. All morning, she had been friendly, if not somewhat shy, but after only a few minutes of cooking, she became quick, decisive, and focused. She had three dishes going at once, and did not show a hint of struggling to keep track of what she needed to do for each of them. Since Fendros and Rhazii were meant to be helping her, she became surprisingly...assertive in giving out her orders to them.

"I need the smallest kwama egg and two pinches of shredded bittergreen. Quick, quick." Shevari shouted out, holding out one hand expectantly while focusing on the stew she was stirring.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

There were indeed many places one could bathe in and around the village, with as much water as flowed through the swamps. But, Julan had made no attempt to hide his path to the very edges of the village. It was easier to pick up his fresh scent once Janius was beyond the huts, but curiously the pair had not stopped at the nearest section of river. Julan's scent carried Janius along the riverbank, through the trees, and out of the direct sight of the village.

Kaleeth's suspicions were proven reasonable when Janius came into sight of the pair. Julan and Leeus were sitting together along the edge of the river, kissing one another. However, it was not as if Janius was entirely wrong either. This was not like Janius and Kaleeth's passionate romance shortly after they met. Julan and Leeus were young, and still acted their age. Julan and particular was nervous and awkward, if his poor attempt at kissing was any indication.

---

"Lucky she didn't get poisoned..." Ahnasha muttered with a harsh scowl coming across her expression, though only for a few, fleeting moments. "But, I'm sure Shevari will impress. She is a professional, after all. Her whole business relies on cooking well enough to convince people to spend their gold on her food, instead of their own."

Ahnasha served a bowl of her stew to both Rhazii and Fendros, and there had even been more than enough utensils in the camp for all of them. It was a decidedly average meal in quality, but at least some of the meat was indeed quite good. Although, with as exhausted as both Ahnasha and Rhazii likely were at this point, anything they could get on their stomachs would be welcome.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Zharanthixil, of course, was not one to smile at Janius' gratitude, but it was not to notice that he was being more willingly and openly friendly with Janius than he had been even just a few days before. "Shouldn't surprise you that I want the best for my grandson. I have to admit, you've done an adequate job with his training, even if he does have stubbornness bordering on stupidity. That can be fixed, though, with the right kind of discipline. He's a boy who could have a place here, and knock the teeth out of anyone who claims otherwise. If you want my advice, I say let him get close to the girl. Make friends, fall in love, become mates if they want. That could make it easier to convince him to want to settle down here when you're finally done with whatever business you have out there."

Kaleeth was behind Zharan, looking visibly uncomfortable at her father's suggestion. Zharan was clearly still under the impression that she intended to settle back down in her village at some point in the future, and she did not know how to break the truth to him.

---

On Fendros' cue, Ahnasha reached over and grabbed some wooden bowls she had stacked on top of one another, then placed them out in front of each of them. "I certainly would like some time to relax over a good meal. Or...at least as good as I could make it. It was slim pickings to find fresh meat that hadn't turned from sitting out all day. The bandits did have some salted meats and vegetables laying around, though, so I was able to get a decent stew going."

Ahnasha continued as she started to pour some of the stew into her own bowl. "Hopefully, it will be as good as what we have to look forward to tomorrow. Is your mother okay with not doing most of the cooking herself, Fendros? You probably don't remember this, Rhazii, but Shevari is quite the accomplished cook. She and my brother have their own business in Leyawiin doing just that. Based on all the letters I've gotten from my family over the years, she's learned a lot of different styles. Argonian, Khajiit, Breton, Imperial styles: both Nibenese and Colovian. She could make Dunmer-style cooking when we last saw her, and she's added some Bosmer and Altmer styles to her repertoire over the years. She's asked me a few times in my brother's letters if I could help her learn Nordic cooking since we've moved to Skyrim, but I keep telling her that Nordic cooking isn't...that great."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Kaleeth let out a sigh and shook her head. "I can't believe you told him anything else other than to avoid getting close to her like that. Whenever we come back here again, she'll surely have moved on with her life."

Finally, Kaleeth uncrossed her arms and relaxed, at least somewhat. "But, you might be right. He is young, and I doubt he's going to be like...us. Maybe I'll go talk to Juran-Selth. I feel like there is a lot the two of us should talk about, with the bad history we've had. Clearing the air, and everything. Maybe you should go check on Julan?"

---

Ahnasha hesitated a moment on how to phrase her answer. "I can make that promise...to the limits of what I know. In the moment. I can't promise to never be wrong, get bad information from scouts or spies, or anything like that, but no warrior is all-knowing. We can only fight for what we believe in, fight to defend ourselves and loved ones, and make the best judgments we can. I think you will make for a great warrior, Rhazii. You have strength, skill, and most importantly, a good heart. If there is one thing I trust you for, son, it is that you will do what is right."

"You do have a lot to learn, Rhazii." Ahnasha said, putting on a smile as she moved over close beside Rhazii and wrapped her arm around him. "But, who knows, maybe I can learn something from you too?"